Another Nine Tries For Munster

Once again Munster ran in 9 tries against Viadana beating them by 55 points to 22 on Italian soil. This win however tasted all the sweeter with news that Perpignan defeated Gloucester.

Munster once again ran in 9 tries against Italian side Viadana beating them by 55 points to 22 on their home turf. This win however will taste all the sweeter with news from France that Perpignan defeated Gloucester by 31 to 23.

Viadana had obviously not recovered fully from last weekend s 64-0 defeat, but this week did manage to fare better and run in 3 tries against Munster at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella.

Munster centre Mike Mullins was over the line in only the third minute and, despite a fifth-minute penalty goal from home full-back Casper Steyn, things went rapidly downhill for Viadana.

New Zealand-born centre Jason Holland scored after 15 minutes, and back-row Alan Quinlan went in for the first of his two tries after 25 minutes. It would have been worse for Viadana if Lion Ronan O Gara had not missed all three conversions.

Hooker Frank Sheahan and Quinlan scored in the approach to half-time, with O Gara converting both to give his side a 29-3 lead at the break.

Winger John Kelly took that out to 36-3 before the Viadana faithful were rewarded with a try. Scrum-half Paul Roux scampered over and Steyn s conversion took the home side into double figures.

Roux s try was merely a temporary hold-up for the men from Munster, and Anthony Foley, Holland and Sheahan took the visitors try tally up to nine, with O Gara adding conversions to take his side past the 50-point mark for the second time in eight days.

Inside centre Harley Crane and winger Roberto Pedrazzi scored second-half tries for the home side, but the Italian outfit were simply outclassed on the day.

Munster's victory and Gloucester's loss means everything rests on the pair's meeting on January 18 at Thomond Park.